Probe under way as 2 die after wall collapses in store
An internal 12m (40ft) wall fell at the Connacht Gold DIY and Garden Centre off the Athlone Rd just before 2.15pm yesterday, and six people were trapped under fallen masonry.
Gardaí and emergency crews were called to the scene to free the trapped people from under mounds of brickwork and plaster.
Five people were taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital and to the Midland Regional Hospital.
One man, in his 40s, died at the scene. The other man, in his 60s, died in hospital last night. A third man is reported to be in a serious condition.
Both staff and customers were injured by the falling debris. Gale force winds are being looked at as a possible cause for weakening of the structure, with eye witnesses saying a gust of wind could be heard roaring into the centre just before the wall collapsed.
The DIY centre only opened last April after extensive refurbishment.
The building itself is being leased.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) sent inspectors to the scene in an effort to establish if the structure of the building is safe. Traffic diversions were in place last evening.
Connacht Gold expressed its sympathies to the families of the dead men and said it will do all it can to help the HSA investigation.
